April 7, 2009

Over in the Polk Gulch, the N’Touch Bar is going to be converted into the ~KOZY CAR BAR~. Yup, Kozy, like those vans in the 70s. The new owner is Sam Young, who currently owns the DragonBar (he was the half-owner of the following venues until 2006: The Desert Moon, Comet Club, Blues, HiFi, Bamboo Hut, Cloud 9 Motel, Mr. Smith's, and HiBall Lounge, and he designed the Comet Club, HiFi, Bamboo Hut, Cloud 9 Motel, Mr. Smith's, HiBall Lounge, and DragonBar). I was told he would release details to me in a month or so, but for now, we just have some pics on the site to guide us. (Based on the last picture of the chick with the rack, I’d say the location’s days of attracting a clientele of rice queens are over.) 1548 Polk St. at California.

Monday April 13th is the next ~THREE ON FIVE BEVERAGE BATTLE AT FIFTH FLOOR~. Master Sommelier Emily Wines will pair French wines against Italian selections from wine director Caterina Mirabelli (District) and Spanish wines from Master Sommelier David Glancy (PCI–Professional Culinary Institute). In addition to the wines, the sommeliers must also pair two of the five courses with “alternative” beverages or cocktails from those particular regions. Executive chef Jennie Lorenzo will create a menu of modern French dishes from the Gascony region as guests sample all three beverage pairings and determine the winners. $125 per person. 7:30pm. 12 Fourth St. at Mission, 415-348-1555.

The baseball season has started, which means there are some ballpark-adjacent happy hours kicking off. From now until the end of baseball season (not just game days), ~SOUTH~ will have a happy hour from 3pm–6:30pm. Every weekday and on game day Saturdays, you can enjoy $6Â wines and $5 bar bites and beers; click here for the menu (the menu will also be available after the game). 330 Townsend St., Ste. 101 at 4th St., 415-974-5599.

~ACME CHOPHOUSE~ is launching a non-game-day happy hour called Acme Hour on Thursday April 16th. There will be $3–$5 specials on drinks and food from 4pm–10pm. Acme will also be giving away prizes next Thursday, including two tickets to the Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation tasting party on April 23rd. The happy hour will continue on all weekdays when the Giants are NOT in town, from 4:30pm–6:30pm. The $5 appetizer list includes baby back ribs, barbecued chicken wings, flatbread, salumi, and Dungeness crab fritters. 24 Willie Mays Plaza at AT&T Park, 415-644-0240.

Also on Thursday April 16th, there will be an exclusive one-night only event, ~BEER WARS LIVE~. It includes a screening of the documentary Beer Wars, and a live panel discussion simulcast from Royce Hall in Los Angeles with independent brewers and beer industry experts. Click here to find the theater nearest you. As the press release states, Beer Wars is a “David and Goliath story of the American beer industry.”